336 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



Notes on a small collection of Birds from the New Hebrides, 

 with a description of a new species of Merula, 



By E. P. Ramsay, F.Z.S., &c.. Curator of the Australian 



Museum. 



The Museum has lately received two small collections of Birds, 

 in spirits, from the Islands of the New Hebrides group, for 

 which we are indebted to Dr. Mackinlay, of H.M.S. " Nymphe," 

 and to the Rev. H. A. Robertson, now stationed on Erromanga. 

 Mr. Robertson's specimens were obtained on the mountains 

 during a recent inland excursion on that island. So little 

 reliable information is on record respecting the ornithology of 

 these islands, that any additional authentic notes on their 

 avifauna will always be acceptable. 



1. — Circus wolffi, Qumey^ F.Z.8., 1865, jp. 823. 



Two fine specimens of a Circus^ which I must, for the present, 

 refer to this species, although they do not altogether agree with 

 Mr. Gurney's description in the " Proceedings " above quoted. I 

 am inclined to believe them to be only varieties of Circus 

 gouldii, Bp. 



Loc, Erromanga. 



2. — Merula albifrons. sp. nov. 



Adult male. The whole of the head, neck, and chest, white ; 

 mantle, and all the upper and under surface, dark brown, almost 

 blackish-brown ; under tail-coverts tipped and mesially shaded 

 with whitish ; quills of the wings and tail blackish brown ; tibial 

 feathers yellowish brown ; bill and legs yellow. 



Total length, 7 '7 in. (in the flesh, spirit specimen) ; wing, 4 in.; 

 tail, 2*8 ; tarsus, 1"3 ; bill from forehead, 0"85 ; from gape, 1 in ; 

 from nostril, 06 in. 



There are a few white- tipped feathers on the abdomen. The 

 type specimen has been preserved in spirits, and has the head 

 and neck discolored, but some purely white leathers on the chest 



